DYNAMITE

"I'll never say no to Jess's cooking." Mads said.

And Elli was asking him to stay, even if he didn't directly say it like that. So he would.

"I could whip up a mean pb and j if that suits you."

The conversation lingered, unaddressed.

He was in the living room when Elli showed up, he was more cautious in keeping the door locked after everything with Max but his siblings had keys, he'd always welcome them into the house whenever they needed to stop by or wanted to, and Elli did most often because he was only a short walk across from the house next door. So it was no surprise to hear his voice.

"Hmn?" Isaac glanced up from his planner, trying to convince himself all day to focus on starting his plans for the upcoming school year while Avery was out on an errand with Nick. But he hadn't been making much progress. "Oh, yeah, I did. I was assuming we all did."

The idea of visitation had also flickered around inside his skull, but he knew it wasn't something he could have done at the time even if the option had been there.

"I don't think anyone is right now, but I don't know if that's the prison or if Gem doesn't want to see anyone."

Usually always welcomed.

"He tells me not to be mad and then doesn't wanna see me like at least say it to my face."

To Write or Not - Elliot and Isaac

@elliot-morey && @isaac-morey

This one is still getting started, so I don't have TOO much to say about it. But I do know it will probably hurt me. Elliot being so angry and Isaac being so defeated...just ugh.

Scent is Memory - Snow and Elliot

@lady-snow-flower && @elliot-morey

I know that this one like...just posted. I think it is just the starter rn (unless I missed the reply and I'll be mad if I did lol). BUT -- it felt like the perfect note to end this lil aesthetic series on. Snow and Elliot have been kind of the linchpin of all these threads and I really appreciate that. <3 So, thank you to you both!

It was something she prided herself on. Picking out voices. In secondary, she had often sat quietly: in the auditorium, class, or cafeteria, and listened to everyone talking around her. She would study people's voices, memorizing them from hearing them elsewhere around town.

"Hm? Oh--well...right now? An iced chai. They have a really good one here. It's got proper spices. What about you?"

"Honestly the strongest coffee I can get, I'm off a late night shift and I still want to get a few things done so I might as well get the caffeine in me sooner than later."

It was still early in the night for herself, so she had settled in with a new romance novel and some quiet music until Elliot made it home.

It only took the sound of his footsteps to know that she wouldn't be finishing her book that evening.

"I don't have anywhere to be. Talk to me Elliot. What's wrong?"

How many times had they tried to show Gem he had the short straw that they were there to help. Willing to help. Wanting to help and he turned his back on it time and time again because in his world he was a bother, he was tainted.

The letter just felt like a cop out to Elliot.

"Do you have any information about the attack on Interpride?" Agent Hughes asked, his intense gaze still fixed on Elliot as if he would be able to read the thoughts through his expressions.

What did he plan on getting from this? What did he think was going to happen?

If anyone understood, it was someone like Hades--who had been so unfairly targeted over his life. And, hell, he still had managed to turn it around and be the bloody mayor!

Or his wife. Who had stood by his side through all of it.

"I don't know how much Hades will say about any of it publicly, and I won't speak for him. But, I know that, at the very least, all of this is much more complicated than it appears. It always is."

"Might be complicated but the town is pretty united on hating this even happened. That's going to turn a lot of people off anyone that was involved."

It didn't matter.

it didn't matter.

That was all he kept telling himself. Repeated like a mantra as an attempt at comfort, he supposed. If he didn't care... if it didn't matter - it would make all of this mess so much less, would it not? The oppressive weight on his chest from an imaginary force told him no... It didn't make it less at all, did it?

Certainly didn't stop every single conversation he'd had with Gem in the past year from replaying in his head. Searching for the signs, for the screams of help he must have ignored. It didn't stop the guilt that tore at his ribs from the way he'd spoken to Gem about everything with himself and Snow. Well good to know I won’t be telling you anything in the future he clearly remembered Gem texting him.

...would Gem had said anything if he hadn't been so horrible? There was a very real possibility that this was entirely his fault. That if he would have just been normal. Supportive. If Gem had trusted him like a brother should...that Gem might have clued him in. Sebastian would have gotten him out. He could have helped.

A dreadful heat burned behind his gaze and Sebastian quickly scrubbed a hand over his face in an attempt to hide it, his lip pulling between his teeth, sinking into already worn skin.

"...esci." Sebastian heard himself say, knowing the defensive dismissal was only an attempt to save face as he did his best to reel his emotions back, pinching at his brow to conceal the quickly gathering tears. ".... vattene.."

But he could gently run his hand over Seb's hair.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you." Elliot whispered, "I'm sorry I couldn't help." If Elli hadn't moved on, if he hadn't moved out, maybe he couldn't have helped Gem, but he could have helped Sebastian.

She expected him to either take her up on the offer, or make some other excuse and leave. That was usually what happened when she talked to people. They used her money...or they didn't really know how to talk to her. What to say...

But whoever this was (their voice sounded vaguely familiar, in the way that let her know he was probably a native, but not someone she'd known well in school...)--was being agressively polite.

Well, two could play at that game.

"Alright, well--since I think it is my fault and you think it is your fault, and we both are rather stubborn about that...why don't we buy each other a drink? I'll buy yours, you'll buy mine. Everyone is happy!"

To clarify his assumption without asking.

"What's your poison?"

Being this close also made her smell his pulse a little more. It was a delightful aroma.

“Oh, you’re one of the Morey’s—that is a name I’ve heard,” she nodded. “It would be hard to not. But I’m glad to be putting a face to a name. Elli. Lovely to meet you. I’m Gabrielle, but you may call me Gabby.”

The drinks arrived and Gabby gave the bartender a small nod and smile. “Thank you, Elli, for the drink,” she said as she raised it to him. “I feel as though i need to think of some way to repay your for your kindness toward me.”

But he was trying to flirt, to have some fun, and you couldn't do that being as depressed as he was.

"You can simply repay me with your company."

Heading straight in Elliot sighed double checking there were no little kid ears to listen in.

"Did you get a letter too? Apparently that's all we're getting, We're not allowed to visit- or at least I'm not allowed to visit."

Now he was angry, Now he was made as he watched his family deal with everything. Not only the grief but being looked at differently. Fuck that.

Fuck everything.

Fuck Simba, Fuck Gem. Fuck all of that.

Stepping into the house Elliot was thankful Penny was already down, he didn't think he could manage to not show how angry he was. It was so obvious on his face, in his footsteps as he went to the fridge and grabbed a beer.

"If you've gotta be somewhere don't get me started on anything." Elliot stated simply.

He can care about Gem and what he's going through while going about his own very busy life.

Plus Penny would need to eat soon anyway.